How To Install a Pea Stone Walkway | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House mason Mark McCullough helps a homeowner connect their driveway to their front walk, matching materials and style for a timeless look.
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Mark McCullough takes us on a house call to help a homeowner extend her front walkway to her driveway. After Mark sources some matching materials, the two work together to branch off the existing walkway, creating an additional path leading to the driveway. They lay cobblestones, spread pea gravel, and lay large bluestone pavers to complete the look.
Walkways that stretch from the front door to the sidewalk are great. But to make them truly functional and keep folks from walking across the front yard, they need to connect to the driveway as well. Mason Mark McCullough helps a homeowner take an existing walkway consisting of centuries-old cobblestones and connect it to her driveway using carefully-sourced materials. Here’s how it’s done.
Difficulty: ⅖
Cost: Roughly $30 per linear foot
Time: A weekend
Where to find it?
Mark extends a pea stone walkway to make a connection between an existing walkway and
driveway.
To get started Mark uses landscape string [amzn.to/3TttxT2] and stakes [amzn.to/3yOV1ci] to outline the desired width of the walkway. This ensures the walkway is square from the house. After digging down about 4 inches with shovels [amzn.to/3yRX0MY], lay down landscaping fabric [amzn.to/3lzFv0R]. Landscape fabric is setting a nice bed for the pea stone gravel [bit.ly/3TrEe8P] and is a sustainable way to keep weeds away. Once the walkway is prepped, dig a trench bed to lay the cobblestone [bit.ly/3FCYNt1]. The trench should be 2-3 inches wider than the intended border. (cobblestone around 9”x5”). Instead of doing a complete dry lay, Mark opts to use a small amount of mortar [bit.ly/3LC9Nut] to give the cobblestone some reinforcement.
Laying Cobblestone Edging and Pea Stone:
1. Place the first cobblestone into the mortar.
2. Tap it down with a rubber mallet to set it into the mortar, then add or remove mortar as needed so the top of the stone is level.
3. Add the next four cobblestones, using the string line as a level. Tap the side of the cobblestones with the rubber mallet not worrying about the gaps between each stone. (They will be filled with pea stone)
4. When the first five cobblestones are laid, lay a level across them, and adjust the stones to achieve level edging.
5. Install the rest of the cobblestones to the opposite end of the trench; check for level after placing every five cobblestones.
6. Spread out roughly 3 inches of pea stone over the landscaping fabric.
7. Mark suggests using a rake to smooth over any dips in the gravel.
8. After the gravel is poured and leveled, Mark suggests using a hand tamper to help compress the gravel down tighter.
9. Last step is to drop the bluestone into the pea stone.
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: bit.ly/2GPiYbH
Materials:
Landscape paint [bit.ly/3JKX06D]
Landscape stakes [amzn.to/3yOV1ci]
Mason’s string [amzn.to/3TttxT2]
Cement mix [bit.ly/3LC9Nut]
Cobblestones [bit.ly/3FCYNt1]
Landscape fabric [amzn.to/3lzFv0R]
Gravel base [bit.ly/3LLMHSr]
Bluestone pavers [thd.co/3JIaMqv]
Pea gravel [bit.ly/3TrEe8P]
Tools:
Pick axe [amzn.to/3lI2oiY]
Shovels [amzn.to/3yRX0MY]
Wheelbarrow [amzn.to/3JFMayB]
Hand tamper [amzn.to/42Bj5Nv]
Rubber mallet [amzn.to/3LKCrd6]
Rake [amzn.to/3ZcOpPJ]
Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/st...
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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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How To Install a Pea Stone Walkway | Ask This Old House
/ thisoldhouse

[@KGMT95]

This homeowner seems much more competent and relaxed than the others tend to be. It looks great!

[@4thgradedropout980]

Agreed. She just got into it, didn't worry about if her technique was 'perfect'. Sometimes you'll find that if you just get to doing the actual work, you'll be finished before you ever had a plan ready. Obviously she had Mark's guiding hand but I agree with you.

[@BrandonTran]

Wow, looks superb and also that house is stunning! Classic

[@kfelix2934]

@05:07 that look was like " This is some serious work"

[@BobbieJeanM]

Beautiful! Great job! 👌👍

[@iTeke28]

She went harddddd! Great Job! 🎉

[@Kevscancave]

I was skeptical … 👍👀👍but that “Diamond Pattern “ looks good with the house style

[@BudlongTaco]

Homeowner is gorgeous

[@arth.4196]

Mark, You make it look so easy. Thanks guy's 👍

[@PatHaskell]

She’s a keeper, for sure!

[@michaelbaumgardner2530]

Great Job,and that young Lady was a great helper.

[@bikeny]

I was thinking that this was one of the few episodes I've seen where the homeowner is really getting their hands and knees dirty. I think we can safely say she contributed to the job and it did come out looking great. As for others talking about stones and shoveling, from what I know, the problem is with snowblowers and stones. Anyway, I just wish they would can the music.(I've been told it's not possible, but I can keep wishing).

[@alopardo]

That actually looks really good.

[@xploration1437]

Maybe at a trailer park…

[@StoneE4]

Now you need to get Jen out there and replace the lawn with some more drought tolerant grasses.

[@jazzfan7491]

Wow, a lot of work.

[@artpro5930]

Amazing result! And I learned both how to layout a new pathway and I would definitely hire somebody to do all that! 🤣

[@JimDean002]

The main thing is to keep it square off of the house. As long as you do that it'll come out good

[@hschofield82]

So cool!

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

Cute home and the added path looks nice. The only thing I would have done differently is widen/curve out the path at the driveway. It would then better match to opposite end at the circle.

[@jenniferw5095]

Oh definitely. Great idea.

[@jazzfan7491]

Good idea

[@BobbieJeanM]

I’ve always thought of that type of stone as “tumbled rock” and “pea stone” as 1/4 to 1/2 that size. Also usually white to very light gray not the multicolored stone here. It’s a beautiful walkway and I think the stone used here will be easier to walk on than what I’m used to.

[@rashofbeatings]

Looks really good.. nice walkway too

[@ryantheentrepreneur4040]

It Looks nice

[@southjps]

Looks great!

[@sathivv950]

Really great camera work in this episode

[@zunedog31]

That was a lot of work

[@dfresh1524]

The digging is the most labor intensive part. You don't need a compactor or concrete.

[@digginz8603]

do not use peastone if you have to shovel snow off it.

[@denisandre7481]

What would you suggest? I live in northern Canada

[@digginz8603]

@@denisandre7481 i would use crushed gravel if i was going to make my path again. Its very finely ground almost like sand. Downside is that you will have it being tracked in the house

[@slavrenz88]

Should've done a bevel or another half-circle at the driveway connection.

[@MegaThepow]

I really need something like this along my property line for walking and getting water to the back of my yard too but not sure how to tackle of this. I need help!!! 😫😫😫

[@Toby-oq8cg]

I used 1/4 minus. Much easier to walk on then the round stones

[@jasonthatcher9345]

how does this sort of walkway hold up under snow shoveling in the winter?

[@elaineisthatyou]

That was actually the question I had. I imagine it won't hold up very well. Paving my gravel driveway was something I sought to do immediately after buying my house and experiencing what a nightmare it was to deal with when it snowed.

[@mj8495]

@@elaineisthatyouand dangerous if using a snowblower 😮

[@elaineisthatyou]

@@mj8495 very dangerous, but not from rocks getting in the snowblower. Because I adjusted the snowblower to not go all the way to the ground, there was always a thin layer of snow left. The real danger was when it would start to melt and refreeze leaving this real nasty black ice!

[@lazygardens]

It doesn't. You scoop up stones with the snow ... OR the snow melts and freezes into the stones, leaving you with a sheet of ice until it can thaw.

[@cf5914]

Neeru could host her own show.

[@JimDean002]

Kevin better watch out. They might find another host from a segment😂

[@nimbly1693]

I am willing to bet Rogah wouldn't care for the shape of that lawn.

[@FAIRYGIRL911]

lawhn

[@TheHolyMongolEmpire]

That’s an absolutely beautiful second empire house. What a gem. That guy is full of crap saying the stones are 300 years old. That house was built probably around 1875 or so. But whatever.

[@jamesmcnaughton5092]

Who said the stones came with the house when it was built? That stone was ship ballast from old sailing ships

[@AStanton1966]

Did she invent the Neeru Jacket from the sixties?

[@PiotrMalicki]

this lawn is screeming for water

[@jazzfan7491]

I assume she is letting it die on purpose. People do that.

[@BA-ef4pr]

The new path doesn't match the existing. It should flare out at both ends, like the circular in original....

[@denieledwards6893]

FIX THE GRASS WOW FUNKY......

[@IndianHeather]

Hey, they skipped hoe to do the string thing.

[@TheDuke013]

I don't believe they dug that out in a day alone, he was out of breath in a couple strokes of the pick. Looks great though.

[@ppomm]

haha this is TV land! there are a handful of strong young folks off camera who step in to do a lot of the heavy work!

[@FarmerDrew]

I'm more of a lentil stone walkway guy

[@alexill]

Groan.

[@saniaamirbaaz8850]

More of a bean guy myself

[@brian-nz3jg]

​@@saniaamirbaaz8850 loser 😂

[@lazygardens]

Peastone makes horrible walkways. It never packs, it rolls out from underfoot, and you can't roll anything across it. Hard to shovel snow off it too.

[@leemp337]

should be fun edging in the summer. pea gravel breaking windows and dinging cars.

[@nicholas440]

Looks good till the weeds come through. Why would you want a walkway with high maintenance

[@jamesmcnaughton5092]

Didn't you see the weed barrier ?

[@nicholas440]

@@jamesmcnaughton5092 oh yeah but nothing lasts forever. I always see broken down barriers weather it's plastic or cloth I'm always picking weeds on my commercial sites

[@willdogsdroid]

Now THAT is a real woman putting in work. So many times women in this videos stand around holding tools.

[@mcpr5971]

Lol if you think they did any work whatsoever. Biggest clue is lack of gloves.

[@timf5963]

@@mcpr5971 no sweat, either.

[@matchstickdesignco]

"We just moved in." Twenty seconds later - "Something we've noticed in the past year. . . " So, did you just move in or have you been there for a year or longer?

[@Mike-pj1kv]

Just moved in could mean within about a year. 1 year isn't long to live in a house.

[@jamesmcnaughton5092]

Holly crap, do you really care ???

[@matchstickdesignco]

​@@jamesmcnaughton5092 Yes. Details matter. For example, there's difference between the words HOLLY and HOLY.

[@jamesmcnaughton5092]

@@matchstickdesignco how do you know that I wasn't referring to a Holly tree?🤣

[@matchstickdesignco]

@@jamesmcnaughton5092 Nice save! 😂

[@IntegraDIY]

I’d fall flat on my face trying to walk on that uneven surface. That or break my ankle or both. Especially at night

[@scarroll625]

That’s because you’re an alcoholic

[@Katana_00]

Good

[@Susann1984]

I'd be jumping on those diamond pavers 😊

[@jamesmcnaughton5092]

Do you suffer from MS or something? Why can't you walk ?

[@mcpr5971]

Big thanks to the off-camera crew of Mexicans who actually did all this and have never been acknowledged in any ToH episode.

[@hammerdick82]

Comspiracy theory guy, go away and stay where you go

[@fakenewselon7759]

100% I saw this on property brothers the other day too. Those clones did a few flooring planks then come in the cheap labor to finish the job properly

[@TheJimmyBuffalo]

@@fakenewselon7759 Did you mean CLOWNS or did you actually mean to say CLONES? Clones is way more funny because they're "brothers" - I sincerely hope you did in fact mean to say CLONES. LOLOL

[@Big-Char.]

The illegals had to flee because of Immegra!

[@syniister7055]

@@TheJimmyBuffalo 😂

[@Name10Game]

Name 10 types of walkways.

[@MK-xn6qx]

Footpaths, Zebra Crossing, side walks, Homeless paths, Vendor walks, Street performer paths... I can think of 6 only

[@djbloodshot]

​@@MK-xn6qx what's a homeless path?

[@FarmerDrew]

Backwards, sideways, moonwalking, crab walk, grape vine, Beatles-style street crossings, old man shuffle, technohouse shuffle, Kingston skanking, and a brisk stroll

[@MK-xn6qx]

@@djbloodshot where homeless people sleep

[@johnj8782]

She's a cutie

[@FAIRYGIRL911]

what a weird comment

[@johnj8782]

@@FAIRYGIRL911 Don't hate

[@gazisher2372]

That lawn looks terrible!

[@Justthemow]

This is a horrible idea people think oh so pretty then a few years go by the stones are over run with weeds and grass. Trimming around it with a string trimmer is near impossible with out breaking a window or getting beat to hell with thrown stones. No lose pebbles of any kind belong in landscaping or walkways near windows

[@lisettalisetta9841]

Use a torch to kill the weeds growing up in stones.

[@Justthemow]

@@lisettalisetta9841 turn the stones black still a flying hazard when trimming near it or edging it bad idea period full stop

[@jamesmcnaughton5092]

Oh stop, it's a weed waker not a machine gun

[@johnberry1107]

300 years old? dont make sense no matter how you think it.

[@xploration1437]

Meow

[@johnlebzelter4208]

@Xploration rumor has it, that your sister makes that same sound…in the bedroom.

[@rd-ch1on]

Your meow is not welcome here

[@xploration1437]

@@rd-ch1on 🐈💨

[@aaqilian5.085]

Makes me miss Roger.

[@rogerclemmons8652]

i would have turned the old drive way into green space and just widened the original path so the car can just drive up to the main steps

[@TheJimmyBuffalo]

Why not build a ramp too and you can simply drive the car into the living room? 😂

[@midnitemoon577]

@@TheJimmyBuffalo Ha ha ha ha.